George stbck



2 Sheets--Sheet 2. G. STE-GK.

(No Model.)

PIANO.

Patented July 26, 1887.

QUE

WITN ESSEE ENVENTEI a T ctZZ whom, it may concern.-

UNITED V STATES PATENT OFFIcE.

GEORGE STECK, OF NEVV YORK, N. Y.

PIANO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,073, dated July 26, 1 887.

Application filed June 3, 1857. Serial No. 240,130. (No model.)

Be it known that I, GEORGE STEOK, of New York city, New York, have invented a new and Improved Piano, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to various improvements on stringless pianos. v

It consists in the features of construction more fully pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section on line 00 m, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 3 y, Fig. 1. Fig. Sis a detail perspective view of the plate d; and Fig. 4is adet-ail longitudinal section through the socket e.

The letter a represents the square frame of a piano containing asuitable action, I), having D hammer b, and operated by key 0, as usual.

Against the back plate of the frame a there is placed an upright metal plate, d, having a horizontal flange, d, as shown. The plate d extends abouthalf-way across the piano, from right to left, and is secured in place by being tightly screwed to the frame a. vUpon the flange (1 there are placed at short intervals, and secured by screws or otherwise, a number of sockets, a. Each of these sockets carries the end of a coiled spring, f.' the coils of each spring being placed in substantially parallel layers, as shown. The plate at constitutes in substance a sounding-board; but the instrument is provided with an additional horizontal sounding-board, g, which is placed at a' short distance from the flange d, and approximately in line with it. Between the flange d and the sounding-board g the springs f have but a single coil, f, as shown, while directly above the sounding-board g the springs are coiled several times backward and forward. The portion f of the springfis the one acted upon by the hammer b from below, and also by a damper, h, from above. This damper is secured to a-lever, h, pivoted to dampenframe at h, and adapted to be oscillated from key 0 by means of a lifter, h This lifter passes through a perforation, h, of flange d, Fig. 3, the several perforations h for the several damper-lifters being placed in front of sockets e, and between the springs f, as shown.

As thus far described the piano is constructed The right-hand or higher notes arenot produeed by the coiled springsf, but by a number of straight metal plates, 2' 2', which are u capable ofa limited up and down motion, and which are secured to the sounding-board 9, so as to project with their rear end over the rear edge of the sounding-board. Thus the plates t are accessible to the hammers b.

Of course the length of the springs f and also the length of the plates i varies, as shown, decreasing from low to high notes.

A piano constructed as described will be found to possess a full and clear tone. It may be strongly and at the same time cheaply manufactured.

What I claim is 1. The combination of soundingboard (1, having flange d, and ofsounding-board g, with the springsf, having a single coil between the parts d g, and double coils above soundingboard g, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of soundingboard (I, having perforated flange d, with the sockets e and springs f, and with the dampers h, connected to the levers h, and with the damperlifters h passing through perforations h of flange 01', substantially as described.

3. Thecombinationoftheuprightsoundingboard 6?, having flange d, and of the horizontal sounding-board g, with the springsf, secured to flange d, and with the hammers b and dampers h, acting upon springs f between the flange d and sounding-board g, substantially as specified.

4. The combination of soundingboard (I, having flange d and carrying springsf, with the sounding-board 9, extending beneath the forward ends of such springs, and with the vertically-movable plates 12, projecting beyond the rear edge of sounding-board g, substantially as specified.

GEORGE STEOK. 

